The Adelaide Crows have thoroughly thumped a listless St Kilda Saints side at Adelaide Oval, winning by 88 point on Sunday.
REPORT: CROWS SMASH SAINTS AT HOME
Final score
Adelaide Crows 19.19.133
St Kilda Saints 6.9.45
The Adelaide Crows need to cement their place in the eight, but hot on their heels are the St Kilda Saints, who won’t hold back in their Sunday meeting at Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar from 4:40pm (AEST) for all the action, live.
Adelaide come into this game on the back of one of their best wins of the season, downing the red-hot GWS Giants, something many of their rivals have failed to do.
The Saints are also coming off a strong showing, challenged by Fremantle during their clash last weekend but pulling away to a convincing 31-point win.
Recent history favours the Crows heavily, especially in South Australia where the Saints haven’t pinched victory since 2009, a year they were grand finalists. While this current St Kilda team isn’t yet in the league’s top echelon, they certainly are on the way up, and with their season still very much alive this match is sure to be as entertaining as it is important.
The Crows’ heroes last weekend were the dynamic big/small forward duo of Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts, who combined for a whopping ten goals. Rory Atkins was also terrific, while the other Rory – Sloane – is well and truly stepping up as the team’s premier player since the loss of Patrick Dangerfield.
Worth noting is that the Crows rank third in the competition for gathering contested possessions, an area St Kilda (15th) are struggling in. Adelaide also impressively boast the most potent attack in the game, averaging the most goals in the league but also importantly the second highest goalkicking accuracy. Against a St Kilda backline that has lost stalwart Sam Fisher through injury, expect another large score.
The Saints’ strength is the speed at which they move the ball, catching defences unawares and punishing them on the scoreboard. Jack Steven continues his incredible run of form, as does Nick Riewoldt who at 33 is still having enormous impact on every game he plays.
The forward line of St Kilda is also suddenly looking very potent, with the Josh Bruce-Paddy McCartin-Tim Membrey trio meshing beautifully. Inconsistency has been their problem, as it tends to be with so many young teams. The upside of that, however, is that the Saints have proven that on a good day, their best is as good as anyone’s.
As previously mentioned, Fisher’s absence is a big blow for the Saints. Hugh Goddard has been given a mighty big opportunity to prove himself against the best. Jack Billings will also return to the side.. Rory Laird is a very welcome return for the Adelaide Crows.
Prediction
A close game for three quarters before the home side pull away in the last.
Crows by 28.
Can the St Kilda Saints keep their finals hopes alive with an unlikely road win or will the Adelaide Crows continue their rise up the ladder? Join The Roar from 4:40pm AEST for all the scores and live blogging – and join in the discussion below!
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Click here for the full match report from this game Very hard to give the 3 - 2 - 1 today. A dozen Adelaide players were worthy of votes and are very unlucky to miss out. To name a few: Sloane, Talia, Walker, Crouch - the list goes on.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
The Adelaide Crows have demolished the St. Kilda Saints at the Adelaide Oval, winning by 88 points in ruthless fashion. St. Kilda youngsters Paddy McCartin and Hugh Goddard also went down with serious injuries in what ended as a horror day for the club. While the Crows had plenty of heroes on the field, Josh Jenkins was the man who did the damage in front of goal, finishing with a haul of seven goals. Ruckman Sam Jacobs was also dominant in the middle, beginning many of the Crows’ attacking passages. Late inclusion Matt Crouch led the disposal count with 36, and will now be hard to displace next week. Young backman Jake Lever was sensational all day, and along with Daniel Talia and Kyle Cheney controlled the back half, keeping the Saints to just 6 goals. The weight of possession told the story today, and with Adelaide gathering 166 more touches than their opponents, the Saints barely had a chance to fire. It was a true belting in all areas of the game, especially up forward, where the undermanned St. Kilda defence was without answers as goal after goal was kicked by the Crows. With a scoreline of 19.19, things could’ve been a lot worse too. St. Kilda will need to rebound strongly next week and have a chance to do so against Carlton in what is suddenly shaping as an important match for both clubs. A huge challenge awaits Adelaide awaits them in the form of West Coast in Perth, a task they will take great confidence into given their performance today. The Roar’s AFL MVP VOTES 3 – Sam Jacobs 2 – Josh Jenkins 1 – Jake Lever
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
ADELAIDE WIN! It's the Crows by 88 over the Saints in Adelaide. Match report and votes to come.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE Jenkins finishes the match with a behind as the siren sounds. What a game from the Crows. Q4 29′ Adelaide 19.19.133 St. Kilda 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Jenkins marks and will have the final shot of the game on an angle about 40m out. Tough shot! Can he do it? Q4 28′ Adelaide 19.18.132 St. Kilda 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
2 minutes of game time left, which will please St. Kilda supporters. Tough day at home watching this one I'd say. Q4 27′ Adelaide 19.18.132 St. Kilda 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Adelaide have had 170 more touches than St. Kilda. Just think how much of a belting that is. Q4 26′ Adelaide 19.18.132 St. Kilda 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Been an age since we've had a minute pass without someone (usually an Adelaide player) scoring. Q4 25′ Adelaide 19.18.132 St. Kilda 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE Oh no! Taylor Walker unselfishly inside 50 centers it to Jenkins, who plays on and from 30m out dead in front hits the post! Come on Josh, we want ten! Q4 23′ Adelaide 19.18.132 St. Kilda 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND ST. KILDA Billings marks deep in the left forward pocket but his kick is far too wide. Gee these boys look dejected. Q4 22′ Adelaide 19.17.131 St. Kilda 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Seedsman just about kicks goal of the day from a set shot 55m out about 10 in from the boundary line. Sensational goal from the former Magpie. Q4 21′ Adelaide 19.17.131 St. Kilda 6.8.44
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Team stuff goes out the window for Brodie Smith, who tries to kick the hero goal while sprinting from about 55m out. Out on the full. Q4 20′ Adelaide 18.17.125 St. Kilda 6.8.44
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE Douglas keeps it low, but it hits the post! Q4 19′ Adelaide 18.17.125 St. Kilda 6.8.44
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
The Saints do well to halt what looks like another Crows goal, but once they get to the wing they are stopped dead in their tracks with nobody to kick to. It results in a turnover and the ball flying back over their heads into the Adelaide forward line where Richard Douglas marks and lines up 35m out on a slight angle. Q4 18′ Adelaide 18.16.124 St. Kilda 6.8.44
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL ST. KILDA Repeat opportunities for the Saints with Bruce earning a free kick for running down Talia with the ball. Taking the wind into account he adjusts accordingly and guides the ball through the big sticks nicely. Q4 16′ Adelaide 18.16.124 St. Kilda 6.8.44
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND ST. KILDA Very soft free kick to Shane Savage inside 50, adjudged to have been knocked over late after kicking the ball. Drifts right heavily. The Crows lead the free kick count 19-8 but it's been barely noticeable. A very well umpired game today. Q4 15′ Adelaide 18.16.124 St. Kilda 5.8.38
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND ST. KILDA Disappointing end to probably the best passage of the game from the Saints. Great run and carry from the back pocket with some nice marks down the wing, and Billings barrels one from 50 that misses. Q4 14′ Adelaide 18.16.124 St. Kilda 5.7.37
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Jenkins with 7! Deep forward, leads into a pack of 4 and of course is the man who comes down the Sherrin. No trouble with the kick from dead in front. Hell of a game from Josh. Q4 11′ Adelaide 18.16.124 St. Kilda 5.6.36
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Jacobs involved again, marking 60m out and poking through a pass to a running Charlie Cameron about 40 out on a slight angle. He takes the worst shot of the day, booting the ball well out and into the stands. Q4 9′ Adelaide 17.16.118 St. Kilda 5.6.36
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE Bugger! Jenkins leads up again and is hit on the chest, again. He misses his seventh shot, registering behind number one for the day. Q4 7′ Adelaide 17.16.118 St. Kilda 5.6.36